The Batmobile was a customized 1955 Lincoln Futura, which had been used in the film It Started with a Kiss. Hollywood Kustom King, George Barris, who designed the car, also designed the Munster Coach and the Dragula from The Munsters, among many others.

The Batcave set was built on the exact spot where the Skull Island Gate was located in the original King Kong. This was pointed out by a visitor to the set who had served as a technician on "Kong".

The props used in this show (such as the computers and guns) also were used in Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel, Land of the Giants, and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

It aired from January 12, 1966 to March 14, 1968 on ABC for 120 episodes. It was one of few TV series to be seen on 2 different nights a week: 7:30 Wednesdays AND Thursdays. It remained there for a season and a half (Jan. 1966-Aug. 1967) until it was moved back once a week (Thursdays 7:30) for its final season.

The episodes were generally two-parters: Wednesday's episode was a cliffhanger, resolved in Thursday's episode. The 1966-1967 season had 2 3-parter episodes ("The Zodiac Crimes/The Joker's Hard Times/The Penguin Declines"ep. #2.37-9, 1/11-12 & 18/1967 and "Penguin is a Girl's Best Friend/Penguin Sets a Trend/Penguin's Disastrous End"ep. #2.42-4, 1/26/, 2/1 & 2/1967) which left cliffhangers that would be solved the following week.

Some of the 1966-7 episodes paired supercriminals with one another, following in the pattern of the theatrically released version of the series, Batman, which featured The Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler and The Penguin.

When playing The Joker, Cesar Romero painted over his mustache rather than shave it off.

Burgess Meredith's role as The Penguin was one of the more popular guest roles, so much so that the producers actually had a script ready for him whenever he was in Los Angeles.

The series was rushed into production, with props from one episode finding their way (sometimes erroneously) into another.

After ABC canceled the series, the producers waited to see if anyone else would pick it up, then bulldozed the Batcave set when it appeared nobody would. Two weeks later, NBC offered to pick it up, unaware that the set had already been dismantled; unwilling to invest in the high cost of rebuilding the entire set, NBC ultimately declined to acquire the series.

Frank Gorshin's maniacal high-pitched laugh as The Riddler is greatly influenced by that of the character "Tommy Udo", played by Richard Widmark, in Kiss of Death.

The Shakespeare bust used to slide open the bookcase and expose the batpoles had an electric switch that couldn't open the bookcase but it did turn on a light behind the set to signal the crew to slide it open.

The interior shots of the Wayne Manor were all done on a very detailed set at the studio. The exterior shots were filmed at 380 South San Rafael Ave, Pasadena, California.

The scene of the Batmobile leaving the Batcave was filmed at Bronson Cavern in Hollywood Hills. A problem run into when filming the scene was that the Batmobile was just about the same width as the cave entrance. To keep from ripping the fenders off of George Barris' creation, they undercranked the cameras so it could come out slowly and then later sped up the film to give the illusion of speed.

In all the scenes of the villains' hideouts, the camera filmed at an angle, almost "crooked" (the shot is known as "canted"). This was because all the villains were also crooked.

In the first season, Burt Ward (Robin) was paid $350 per week.

A Total of 352 "Holy" words were used by Robin from "Holy Agility" to "Holy Zorro".

The Batmobile turntable in the Batcave was not powered, as watching the show would have you believe. It did rotate, but only with the help of six crewmen out of camera range. They pushed the car around 180 degrees on the platform. As with most of the effects, they only had to shoot the scene one time then added it where needed.

The National Safety Council brought up the safety issue in the Batmobile. They wanted to know why the Batmobile was not fitted with seat belts. The producers answered that question by having Batman and Robin "buckling up" before they tore out of the Batcave.

Burgess Meredith had not smoked in 20 years when he was cast as the Penguin.

Mary Ann Mobley was the first choice to play Batgirl. Originally, the character was to have her own TV series which would lead-in to Batman each week.

Originally conceived by ABC as a serious dramatic show, at one point Mike Henry (best known as one of many actors to play Tarzan) did publicity photographs in the role. According to Adam West, a nervous ABC required the producers to hold test screenings of the show, one with a laugh track added, the other with additional narration. Neither alteration was successful.

Each main villain had their own theme music.

Lyle Waggoner was the other choice for Batman during casting.

Because of a contract dispute, Frank Gorshin missed one episode and was replaced by John Astin. Also, the episode featuring the villain "The Puzzler" was originally written to feature The Riddler. Gorshin did return for one episode in the final season.

Anne Baxter appeared as two different villians. The first one was the female magician Zelda, but her more famous appearance was as Egghead's paramour Olga, Queen of the Cossacks.

Of all the villains, the Penguin appeared the most. He made 26 appearances during the show's run.

When the series premiered, Alfred had been "killed off" a few years earlier in the comic book series. However, when the producers announced that they intended to make Alfred a regular character, he was brought back to life in the comic book as well.

84 different word overlays were used during the fight scenes from "Bam" to "Kapow".

The first show to hold two spots in the weekly Neilsen ratings every week, a feat not duplicated until Who Wants to Be a Millionaire over 30 years later.

Madge Blake became seriously ill just before filming on the third and final season commenced, causing her to leave the series. However, she is briefly seen as Aunt Harriet in the episode "Ring Around the Riddler", and in the three-part Lord Ffogg/Londinium episode.

The Bat-villain Two-Face was considered for the show before its cancellation. The theme of the character was to be a TV commentator who has a TV tube blow up in his face (as the character's original origin - Gotham D.A. Harvey Dent has a vial of acid hurled at his face in court by volatile mob boss Salvatore 'The Boss' Maroni during his trial - would have been too gruesome for television at the time). Ultimately, the character did not appear on the series.

José Ferrer and Gig Young were considered for the role of the Joker. Frank Sinatra also expressed interest in the role.

Eartha Kitt took over the role of Catwoman in the final season because Julie Newmar was busy filming Mackenna's Gold.

Before going on the air, this show received the worst audience test scores in the history of ABC. It only went on the air because so much money had already been invested in it.

Suzanne Pleshette was one of the original choices to play Catwoman before Julie Newmar landed the role.

The Riddler was just a minor and forgettable villain in the comics. This series is responsible for turning him into one of the most popular villains in Batman's rogues gallery.

This was one of the "in" shows to appear on if you were a big name in Hollywood during the 1960's, and many top names guested on the show, including many who didn't do much TV otherwise. Those performers who weren't cast as guest villains could frequently be seen popping their heads out of windows to exchange a few words with Batman and Robin when the latter would be climbing up a building wall. Frank Sinatra, Natalie Wood, and Cary Grant were all fans of the show, and wanted to be on it, but the producers were never able to come up with the right roles for any of them.

A nonsmoker in real life, Burgess Meredith came up with the Penguin's distinctive squawking sound because the cigarettes were irritating his throat.

Of all the villains portrayed on the television series, Mr. Freeze had the most actors portraying him: George Sanders, Otto Preminger and Eli Wallach. Catwoman had three actresses as well - Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt, and Lee Meriwether (in the movie version).

Batman creator Bob Kane noted that this series saved the Batman comic series from cancellation when the show revived the character's popularity. Despite this, most comic fans despised this series for stereotyping superheroes and comics as campy nonsense. Furthermore, soon after the show was canceled, the character's comic series took on a dark and deadly serious tone that was reminiscent of the original comics in the late 1930s as a reaction to the TV show's light touch.

The "Giant Lighted Lucite Map of Gotham City" is a reverse image of St. Louis, right down to Forest Park, Fairground Park, Tower Grove Park, Lafayette Park, and Horseshoe Lake on the Illinois side, as well as the other river and road networks.

Peter R.J. Deyell was the other choice for Robin during casting.

According to George Barris, the builder of the Batmobile, there were five Batmobiles made during the 1966-1968 run of the Batman series.

Mickey Rooney turned down an offer to play The Penguin.

Spencer Tracy was offered the role of the Penguin, but he said he would only take the part if he could kill Batman.

During the run of the series, this show crossed over with The Green Hornet. The Green Hornet (Van Williams) and Kato (Bruce Lee) teamed up with the Dynamic Duo in one episode, and did a "window" cameo in another.

The final episode featured several members of the production staff, including producer Howie Horwitz.

Frank Gorshin disliked wearing the Riddler's skin-tight outfit and a Riddler business suit was designed for him to wear. This suit was later incorporated into the Batman comics.

Some of the jokes in modern-day culture about Batman being gay started with Dr. Frederic Wertham's book in 1953 that claimed that comic books were teaching immorality to children and targeted Batman and Robin as symbols of homosexuality. Adam West strongly rallied against these insinuations and insisted that it was never on any of the show creators' minds.

Eartha Kitt was the only black villain to appear on the show.

In his autobiography, Adam West recalls that he became good friends with Frank Gorshin and Cliff Robertson (who costarred as Shame) and had a great deal of respect for Cesar Romero, Vincent Price, and Burgess Meredith. He described Alan Napier (Alfred) as a quiet and reserved man and found Neil Hamilton somewhat difficult to work with.

Television shows of the era that filmed at the same studios often shared minor cast members. It is common to see familiar faces in episodes of Star Trek, Batman, Mission: Impossible and The Wild Wild West.

The uncredited narrator for the series is voiced by producer William Dozier. On the 1966 Original Televison Soundtrack Album, the narrator is identified as "Desmond Doomsday".

Two sets of screen tests were filmed for the series, one with Adam West and Burt Ward, the other with Lyle Waggoner and Peter R.J. Deyell. The roles went to West and Ward.

Only two villains ever discovered Batman's true identity, Egghead and King Tut (twice). Egghead was later tricked into disbelieving his discovery, while Tut was tricked into disbelieving his discovery one time and Tut's amnesia caused him to forget the other time.

At the end of season three, ABC planned to cut the budget by eliminating Chief O'Hara and Robin. Batgirl would then become Batman's full time partner. Both 'William Dozier' and Adam West were opposed to the idea. ABC canceled the show a short time later.

Mr. Zero was renamed Mr. Freeze for this series. The named change eventually made its way into the comics as well.

Though portrayed as Batman villains on this series, the Puzzler was actually a Superman villain, and the Clock King was a Green Arrow villain.

According to Adam West, because of the show's popularity, he was offered the role of James Bond for On Her Majesty's Secret Service. He declined because he felt the role should go to a British actor. Ironically, the role wound up going to Australian actor George Lazenby.

Tallulah Bankhead's role as the Black Widow was her final on screen appearance.

Before season three, a promotional short was filmed with Yvonne Craig as Batgirl and Tim Herbert as Killer Moth. The short was convincing enough for ABC to pick up Batman for another year with the thought being that Batgirl would attract more female viewers.

Batman: The Animated Series did a tribute to Adam West called "Beware of the Grey Ghost." West portrayed an actor that was known for the superhero role he played a long time ago, but has been struggling to find work ever since that series ended, because of producers typecasting him.

Debuted as part of ABC's "Second Season" promotional campaign for four new series that replaced recently canceled ones. However, it was the only one of the four to be renewed for another season. The other three series were The Double Life of Henry Phyfe, Blue Light and The Baron (a British import whose first season was carried over into 1967). All four series were presented in color. The "in color" aspect of this campaign resulted in no new ABC series being broadcast in black and white from January 1966 on. (Although any series that were already in black and white before 1966 continued until September.)

Cesar Romero guest-starred on Bonanza: The Deadliest Game as the head of a trapeze troupe; moreover, he does his act as a clown. Romero's most infamous role as the Joker, Clown Prince of Crime, in Batman, whose second main hero, Robin had origin in a trapeze troupe with his family, The Flying Graysons.

Three major villains from the comic book were never used in the television show: Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, and Two-Face, although the latter was almost used. Eventually, all of them would see live-action incarnations: Ivy in Batman & Robin; Scarecrow in Batman Begins; and Two-Face in Batman Forever and subsequently in The Dark Knight.

The character of Aunt Harriet was introduced in the comics in 1964 - eighteen months before the show first aired. Her appearance coincided with the killing off of Alfred the Butler.

Despite the show's popularity, it has never been released on DVD. This is due to a rights dispute between 20th Century Fox, who produced the show, and Time-Warner, who own the character's publisher, DC comics.

The real names of the Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman (Edward Nigma, Oswald Cobblepot and Selina Kyle respectively) were never used or referred to.

Alfred's last name was never revealed on the show. In the comics, and other adaptations, his last name is established as Pennyworth.

Just as in the comics, the Joker's true name was never revealed.

The only villain who was ever called by his real name was the Mad Hatter. For the record, his name was Jervis Tetch.

Chief O'Hara was a creation of the producers for the TV series. DC Comics would eventually adapt O'Hara for use in the Batman comics as well.

Prior to his being cast for the show, Alan Napier had never heard of Batman and didn't know who the character was.

According to Adam West, then US Attorney General (later Senator) Robert F Kennedy was a fan of the show. Attempts were made to have him make a cameo as a character named Attorney General, but details could not be worked out.

Of the villains created for the series, King Tut made the most appearances with ten. DC Comics adapted King Tut for use during the 2000s. In addition, King Tut likely inspired Maxie Zeus, a villain introduced in the comics during the 1980s.

While most of the villains were from Batman comics, a handful originated as enemies of other heroes. The Archer and The Puzzler were villains from Superman stories, and Clock King was originally an enemy of Green Arrow.

Series Executive Producer William Dozier made appearances in both the pilot and series finale. Producer Howie Horwitz cameoed in the final episode as well.

During Season Three, each episode ended with a teaser featuring the next episode's villain.

Shortly after the series began to air in England, several children were hurt while "flying" out of windows trying to emulate Batman. An announcement by Adam West in the role of Batman was filmed to discourage children from the practice, and made it clear he himself could not "fly".

Writer Stanley Ralph Ross named many characters (and settings) after friends and family members. In addition, Ross would use foreign words and phrases, some of which subtly dirty, in many scripts.

Catwoman was the only major villain whose costume was completely different from the one seen in the comics. For a brief time, her costume was drawn in the comics to resemble the TV costume.

Like his trademark "quack", the Penguin's waddling was largely a result of improvisation by Burgess Meredith.

Aunt Harriet was written out during season three for a number of reasons. One was declining health of Madge Blake, who was also continually frustrating producers and directors with stammering or forgetting her lines. Blake was also let go due to the budgetary cutbacks that occurred for that season. For the most part, Aunt Harriet was said to be away on various overseas vacation trips during season three.

When the series was reduced to (mostly) one part episodes during season three, the cliffhanger death traps and threats were still used, but greatly scaled back and occurring at the middle commercial break.

The window cameos were initially used as a way to accommodate celebrities requests to appear on the show. In addition, performers and actors (some in character) from other ABC and 20th Century Fox TV series made window cameos for promotional purposes.

Chief O'Hara's first name is never revealed on the series. According to some sources his first name is either Miles or Clancy. Likewise, Commissioner Gordon's first name is never used, and in Batman canon Gordon's first name is James/Jim.

Some of ABC's southern affiliates objected to the casting of Eartha Kitt as Catwoman, but 'Charles B. Fitzsimons' said he and the show's other producers didn't care about the issue.

No origin story was shown as Batman and Robin were portrayed as established crime fighters from the start of the series. The pilot and a couple of other early episodes made references to Batman's origin story, though never to that of Robin.

Batman was not the first, or only, choice of characters when producers decided to do a TV series based on a comic book or strip. Producers surveyed the public about which character they'd like to see a TV series based on, and other options included Superman, Dick Tracy, The Green Hornet, The Phantom and Little Orphan Annie. Batman finished highest on the list among characters whose rights were available and obtainable at the time.

Adam West (Bruce Wayne / Batman), Burt Ward (Dick Grayson / Robin) and Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon) are the only actors to appear in all 120 episodes of the series. In second place is Alan Napier (Alfred) who appeared in a total of 116 episodes.

A number of episodes, mostly during the first season, were adaptations of earlier Batman comic book stories.

Famously, Otto Preminger was kept locked out of his house by his grandchildren until he agreed to be cast on the series as Mr Freeze. Likewise, Eli Wallach successfully sought his guest role on the series at the urging of his children, and Tallulah Bankhead saw appearing on the series as an opportunity to entertain her grandchildren.

Julie Newmar was visiting her brother at his College in New York when first contacted with the offer to play Catwoman. A group of her brother's friends were regular watchers of the series and after consultation convinced her to take the part.

ABC initially ordered the series for the 1966-67 TV season. However finding themselves in desperate need of programming, the network decided to add the show as a mid-season replacement in January, 1966.